Y9 Football – 25th April 2018
Yesterday afternoon the year 9 footballers went to Boulevard academy for the latest game in the plate competition. After a difficult game against St Mary’s a few weeks ago where the boys worked really hard but ultimately came up short, this was an opportunity to turn things round. The last meeting between the two sides finished 6-5 to us earlier in the year and this game again turned out to be quite the goal filled thriller!
We got off to a great start with an earlier opportunity for Sam Miles cooly slotted home after 5 minutes. This was quickly 2-0 when Tom Downing scored his first of two fantastic goals. We were much the better team in the early stages but were pegged back after some sloppy play before Josh Russell tucked away a neat cross to restore the two goal lead. Then came a collapse, 3-1 became 3-5 to Boulevard in the space of 10 minutes as the positive opening was thrown away. Heads were dropping but Declan Wilds positivity on the sidelines was holding the boys together by a thread. Sam Miles showed predatory instincts just before half time to keep spirits up leading into the second half.
After a couple of changes, the second half began in a similar fashion to the first, with Sirius taking back control with goals from Sam and a Tom Downing screamer (now 6-5 to us….keep up!). Boulevard were not finished there though and scored two great goals themselves from outside the area to regain the lead before 3 more Sam Miles goals (6 in total for him) moved us into a hopefully unassailable 9-7 scoreline. (I was struggling to keep up with the score by now as you might expect)
Then in the unusually long second period that appeared to run on for 40 minutes rather than the agreed 30, Boulevard got another after an unfortunate own goal to leave a very tense finish. Boulevard had one more attack left, could they take it to extra time? Good build up play led to another long range strike which looked like it was definitely hitting the bottom corner, but Arturs Billands leapt like a salmon to pull of an unbelievable save to ensure we won 9-8.
Quite an afternoon. Very wet also. Please congratulate if you see the boys.
Ryan Brown
Elliot Barnes
Ali Al Rifae
Callum Marsden Noble
Arturs Billands
Tom Downing
Josh Russell
Alfie Milnes
Sam Miles
Bradley Loveridge
Riley Fuller
James Windass
Declan Wilds
Diogo Oliveira